Download Festival announces first few bands

By Richard Craig

Slipknot have been announced as the first headliner for next years’ Download Festival.

They will be joined by Judas Priest, Five Finger Death Punch and Black Stone Cherry.

The Iowan nonet will headline the main stage on Friday 12th June following Judas Priest, while Black Stone Cherry top the second stage on the opening day.

Slipknot’s most recent album ‘5:The Gray Chapter’ topped the album charts in the US and Canada and reached the No.2 spot in the UK.

Frontman Corey Taylor is excited about headlining the festival for the second time in three years. “Being invited back to Download always feels like coming home,” he said. Headlining for the third time feels like the culmination of a life’s dream – it’s an honour and we’re all looking forward to it.”

Judas Priest played the inaugural Monsters of Rock festival at Donnington in 1980, but it wasn’t until 2008 that they first played the rebranded Download festival.

They had the following to say: “We’re thrilled to be performing at Download 2015 as the band continues its 40th anniversary Redeemer of Souls World Tour, bringing us home to hear the roar of our Priest family.”

 

More acts will be announced soon, and tickets go on sale at 9am this Thursday (20th November) from http://downloadfestival.co.uk/

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